Серце-викривач

           Itincreasedmyfury, asthebeatingofadrumstimulatesthesoldierintocourage. 

           ButevenyetIrefrainedandkeptstill. Iscarcelybreathed. Iheldthelanternmotionless. ItriedhowsteadilyIcouldmaintaintherayupontheeye. Meantimethehellishtattoooftheheartincreased. Itgrewquickerandquicker,andlouderandloudereveryinstant. Theoldman’sterrormusthavebeenextreme! Itgrewlouder,Isay,loudereverymoment! —doyoumarkmewellIhavetoldyouthatIamnervous:soIam. Andnowatthedeadhourofthenight,amidthedreadfulsilenceofthatoldhouse,sostrangeanoiseasthisexcitedmetouncontrollableterror. Yet,forsomeminuteslongerIrefrained andstoodstill. Butthebeatinggrewlouder,louder! Ithoughttheheartmustburst. Andnowanewanxietyseizedme—thesoundwouldbeheardbyaneighbour! Theoldman’shourhadcome! Withaloudyell,Ithrewopenthelantern andleapedintotheroom. Heshriekedonce—onceonly. InaninstantIdraggedhimtothefloor, andpulledtheheavybedoverhim. Ithensmiledgaily,tofindthedeedsofardone. But,formanyminutes,theheartbeatonwithamuffledsound. This,however,didnotvexme; itwouldnotbeheardthroughthewall. Atlengthitceased. Theoldmanwasdead. Iremovedthebedandexaminedthecorpse. Yes,hewasstone,stonedead. Iplacedmyhandupontheheartandheldittheremanyminutes. Therewasnopulsation. Hewasstonedead. Hiseyewouldtroublemenomore.